Foldable tray.



G. F. A. EDDY.

FOLDABLE TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1,1908.

91 4,030., Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

6 J. /zar/aunflwzzca mndzagiy C. F. A. EDDY.

FOLDABLE TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.1,1908.

91 4,030, Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. F. A. EDDY.

POLDABLE TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED EEB.1,1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Yz'igzes-s 6-5 1720672221" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, EDDY, OF SAN BERNARDINO, ChLI'FORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO BENJAMIN HAWETT NORTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

notorious may.

Specification of Letters Patent.

fatented March 2, 1969 To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES FRANGIS ADAMS EDDY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at San Bernardino, Cali: fornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Trays, of which the following is a s ecification.

The inventionre ates to fol'dable trays and more particularly to the class of knock down tray structures,which latter when in an or 'eretive position receive and support eggs; However; the same may be adapted to receive various articles of merchandise.

The primary ob'ect of the invention is the provision of a fol able structure, such as a plurality of superposed perforated sheets of relatively stiff material forming trays, for re ceivi-n'g articles, in this instance eggs, to be supported and sus uded thereby, and adapted to be removal) y held within a box, crate or the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a foldable structure, such as a tray having a plurality of superposed perforated sheets of relatively stiff material, each pro vided at opposite longitudinal sides with crease lines to form flexible intermediate and other for shipment of large quantities of ar ticles, namely, eggs, in a crate, box or the like rece tacle'.

iththese and other objects in view the invention, for example, consists in the construction, cornbinatlon and arrangement of arts hereinafter described, and as illustrated m the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be made such as come properly within the scope of the claims hereunto appended, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

a In the drawings :Figure 1, is aneniarged perspective view of the fold'able tray structure' removably held within abox. Fig. 2, is a transverse section of the tray structure, the

the said strips latter removed from the box. Fig. 3, is a perspectivewiew of the tray structure in a olded position. Fig. 4, is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 5, is a view of the same in a folded position. Fig. 6, is a view of the tray structure, showing the same, one stacked upon" another an with the removable partitions between them.

Figs. 7 and 8, are detail views of a partition andtop or cover, respectively, for the tray structures. Fi 9, is a transverse sectional view 'Of a furt er modification of the tray structure.

Similar reference characters indicate cor respondin parts throughout the several views in t e drawings. 1

In the drawings, with reference rticu larly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the numera 1, des= ignates a foldable tray structure comprising upper sheets 2, of an suitable material, but, preferably of relative? stifi card-board, which are arranged in aral el rows with respect to each other, and aving perforations 3, of any desirable numb-er, for receiving eggs. At op osite longitudinal sides of each sheet 2, ormed by crease lines 4, are downwardly bent connecting strips 5, which extend the entire length of opposite longitudinal sides of said sheets. Below the upper sheets 2, are sheets 6,. the latter having perforations 7, which are of decreased size with respect to the perforations 3, in the superposed s eets 2, for receiving the small ends of the eggs mounted in the perforations and supported thereby. 6n opposite longitudinal sides of the sheets 6-, flexlblg formed bycre'ase' lines 8, are downwardly ent connecting' strips 9', which are of less de th than the said strips- 5-, of the sheets 2', an which are connected to 5', so as to hold the sheets in sipaced relationto each other and united. 'urthermore, the unitary tray structureis ca able of being brought from operative to a fo ded osition. The tray structure 1, is removab y held within a box 10, of knock down formation and comprises a bottom: f1; flexibly connected side and end walls 12, and 13, respectively, and a cover 14, which is also flexibly connected to one of the side Walls. Said side walls 12, have bendable tongues 15, ada ted to engage slots 16, formed in the end we]? s 13, so as to hold the box to, in an oper ative' position to receive the tray structure 2. It is to he understood that this formation of box is merely shown for the sake of disclosing a convenient receptacle in which the tray structure can be removably held as it can be a crate or the like, and, therefore, the same is not an essential feature of the invention, as any well known construction of box, crate or the like may be employed as found desirable.

In Fig. 4, is shown a modification of the tray structure which discloses su erposed sheets 2, and 6, having therein per ora'tions 3, and '7, respectively, and interposed be.- tween the connecting stri s 5, and 9, and opposite outermost sides 0 the united sheets are relnforcing strips 17, which project a distance above and below the said sheets 2, and 6, and inproximity to the upper edges of each of the outermost strips 17 flexibly formed by a crease line 18, is a flexible and lnwardly bent flange 19, to engage a removable partition 20, (Fig. 7) having perfora-- tions 21, to receive the ends of the eggs. Said partitions 20, are provided at opposite sides thereof with crease lines 22, to make flanges 23, bent at right angles to the body of said partitlons 20, and the same are adapted to contact with the strips 5, and 9, at the outer most sides of said tray structure when the latter is mounted above' another tray structure. It will be apparent that these tray structures can be stacked one upon another with the interposed partitions 20.

Fig. 8, discloses a cover or top 24, having flanges 25, at right angles thereto on opposite s1des of the same to slidably engage the flanges 23, of the tray structhre and the upper sheets 2, thereof, so as to form a closure for the tray structure at'the upper end of the stack. It will be obvious that this cover 24, can be used for a bottom at the base of the stack of tray structures, as well as it can be used for a cover or top. Also said cover 24, ma be perforated to receive the ends of the articles if found desirable.

In Fig. 9, is shown a further modified form of the tray structure, which involves the superposed sheets 2 and 6, having the perforations 3 and 7, respectively, and the lnterp sed reinforcing strips 17, between the connecting strips 5 and 9, and the opposite outermost sides of the united sheets. Said remf rcing strips 17, roject a distance above and below the sai sheets 2 and 6, and in proximity to the upper crease lines 18, just elow the flexible and inwardly bent flanges 19, are inverted sheets 26, having perforations 27, conforming to and receivmg the Smaller ends of the eggs or the like articles. Said sheets 26, are rovided with crease lines 28, to make upwar 1y bent flanges 29, one of which latter on each sheet 26, is connected to the reinforcing stri s 17 and the other flange is free thereof, so t at the eggs or other arti cles can be inserted in osition in the perforations 3 and 7, in the s eets 2 and .6, respectively, then sald sheets 26, are lowered upon therein and they are maintained in such lowered position by the removable cover 24, 'or the top of the receptacle or the like in which the tray structures are placed.

Having described the invention,what is claimed is 1. A foldable tray comprising a plurality of superposed rows of perforated sheets, the sheets of the superposed rows being flexibly connected at their adjacent longitudinal edges to form a unitary collapsible structure.

2. A foldable tray comprising pairs of superposed perforated sheets, each sheet having its opposite edges bent'at right angles thereto, the ed es of one sheet being connected to the e ges of the adjacent and super-posed sheets. Q

.3. A tray of the class described comprising' perforated sheets arranged in superpose parallel rows, and means flexibly uniting the rows and sheets, at their longitudinal edges to permit collapsing of the structure.

4. A foldable tray structure com rising a plurality of superposed perforate sheets, each havin flexible connecting strips at its longitudina edges, and reinforcing means associated therewith, oneedge of each up- 5. A foldable tray comprising spaced upper and lower perforated sheets hinged together along their op osite longitudinal edges to maintain said sheets in supe osed relation with respect to eachother an also permit collapsing thereof one upon the other.

6. A foldable tray structure com rising a plurality of superposed perforate sheets,

uniting the same, reinforcing strips associated with the first mentioned strips, and removable perforated partitions cooperative with the tray structure to'allow the stacking of a series of'the same.

a 7. A foldable tray structure com rising a plurality of SUPGIiPOSGd perforate sheets, each having flexib e connecting strips, reinforcing connecting strips associated with the first mentioned strips, a removable perforated partition coo erative with the tray structure to allow t e stacking of the same, and an imperforate top and bottom for said structure.

8. A foldable tray structure com rising a plurality of superposed perforate sheets, each having flexible connecting strips, reinforcing'strips associated therewith, two of the latter haying flanges at their upper edges, aremovable perforated partition inserted between the said flanges and the uppermost sheets, and an'imperforate top and bottom for. the said structure.

9. A foldable tray compiisin perforated sheets, and means;v connecting t e sheets at said articles which enter the perforations perinost sheet being disconnected to permit the raising 'of the sheet.

each having flexible connecting strips for their opposite longitudinal edges to normally hold said sheets 1n s aced relation .to each other and permit col apsing thereof.

10. A foldable tray having perforated sheets, and flanges at op osite longitudinal edges of each sheet, the anges of one sheet being connected to the flanges of the other sheet to support the sheets in superposed relation to each other and permit collapsing of the same.

11. A foldable tray comprising perforated sheets, and connecting strips at opposite longitudinal ed es of each sheet, the connecting strips 0 one sheet being secured to the connecting strips of the other sheet to hold the sheets in superposed position with respect to each other.

12. A foldable tray comprising perforated sheets having hinged connecting strips throughout opposite edges thereof, the said strips being united to normally hold the sheets in superposed elevated position with respect to each other.

13. A foldable tray comprising upper and lower perforated sheets, and means flexibly connecting the sheets in spaced relation to each other, the lowermost sheet being held a distance removed from the bottom edge of said means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

